Back at school, things were different. Lily and Rose still drew attention—this time, not because of their beauty or popularity, but because they were the girls who had been "cheated" by Damian. Even worse in the eyes of their classmates, they were the girls who were pregnant.

As they walked through the halls together, the whispers followed them.

Classmate 1: "Did you hear? Both of them. With Damian."
Classmate 2: "I'd be so embarrassed. How could they even show their faces?"

Classmate 3: "I could never sit next to them"

The words stung, but Lily and Rose had made a pact: they wouldn't let the opinions of others drag them down. They had bigger things to worry about now.

In the cafeteria, Rose set her tray down beside Lily's.
Rose: "Let them talk. They have no idea what it's like to be us."

Lily: "Yeah, and they don't matter. All that matters is what we do next."

But despite their brave faces, the constant gossip weighed heavily on both of them. After school, they met in the empty art room, where they often went to escape the noise of the outside world.

Rose: "Do you ever feel... guilty?"

Lily: "About what?"

Rose: "Everything. About Damian. About getting pregnant." She paused, her eyes distant. "Sometimes I feel like I messed everything up."

Lily reached across the table, placing her hand on Rose's.
Lily: "We didn't mess anything up. He did. And as for being pregnant... I don't know. I'm scared too, but I don't regret it."

Rose: "You really don't?"

Lily: "No. These babies... they're our second chance. We're going to be moms, Rose. We can make sure our kids grow up with love. Something Damian could never give us."

Rose squeezed Lily's hand, tears welling up in her eyes.
Rose: "You're right. We'll be okay. We're stronger than this."